In the past NFPA 1033 has been a “sleeper” document. After the début of NFPA 921 in 1992, knowledge of fire science became more important to the litigation community. After the introduction of 921, more emphasis on the fire science principles expressed in 921 was attempted to be introduced into the requirements of 1033. This was largely blocked by the “let’s get the word science out of the document” debacle of the mid-90s.

However with the inclusion of more and more NFPA 921 proponents onto the 1033 committee, this retrograde, dinosaur, mentality has largely been relegated to the minority, and the current proposed version of 1033 passed by the Technical Committee this past February reflects this.

Just as with NFPA 921, we are going to see more, and more frequent questioning of a fire investigator witness’s qualifications based upon NFPA 1033, particularly of its “Requisite Knowledge” sections. I believe the areas of basic education (secs. 1.3 and 1.3.2), continued education (sec. 1.3.7), use of the “Scientific Method,” (Sec. 1.4.3) are areas wherein these inquiries will be centered. And rightly so.

Pat Kennedy, CFEI, CFPS, MIFireE
Fire and Explosion Analyst
Sarasota, Florida
[www.kennedy-fire.com]